Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-06-10
PLATONISM FOR THE GIRLS.
Young Men Friends Who Are Not Lovers
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Row to Judge Them.
"Can there be true friendship between
man and woman without lover" This
problem, says writer in the Milwaukee
Wisconsin, has been sent me for solution
by two Nebraska young women, who
naively acknowledge that q strong per-
sonal interest prompts their question.
Dear girls, there is nothing more embar-
RAISING than 10 be asked for information
upon matters concerning which there is q
great VagUeneSs in ones own mind.
Opinions differ on this subject,
as on all Others What is an article Of
faith with a calls forth the unmitigated
scorn of 3, while G serenelY accepts the
most attractive features of the two theo-
Ties and regards their opponents with the
easy federation Of one who has the ma
iority or his side. For myself, ! would
say that in my opinion there is such q
thing possible between man and woman
as friendship without love, and I would
qualify this statement by UGoting the
words of so CID Illinois farmer of my ac-
quaintance: "But it's mighty uEsartin,
and powerful rare" 1t you have lived
to the mature age Of eighteen or twenty,
you have probably had some personal ex-
perience IN this matter. Inasmuch as ga
strong interest" causes your desire for
light on the subject, it might be well to
look at it from several stsndDOints and
discover, if possible, the class OF mascu-
line aspirants to which George may be-
long.
First, there is the youth who, rejected
as 8 sutton, processes himself anxious 10
retain st least the position OF friend. As
q general thing he is rather ulsatisfaCtO-
ry He is inclined to wax sentimental at
intervals, which is embarrssSing-to in
dulge in the fond hope of future surren-
der, which is dlscoLraging- to grow
Jealous and uncomfortable whenever g
third person appears on the scene, which
is annoying. He brings up various
"reminiscences at announcement times, acts
desperate when you snub him, idiotic
when you don't and altogether his pro-
fessed friendship alone" is O hollow
mockery. AS time passes and the sharp
edge of mis- disappointment wears of a
little, he generally succeeds in finding
some other young woman who is willing
to take him for better or worse. This
reinstates his good opinion of himself,
while simultaneously his estimate Of you
undergoes change as he realizes the
Wretched taste you showed in refusing
what another girl found SO desirable. He
finally concludes that, after all, you were
never exactly his style.
The second class includes the warm,
admiring friend who has enshri ed III his
heart some fair divinity concerning whom
he loves to pour his condolences, his
hopes and fears into your sympathetic
left ear. He will come to your homes on
the evenings when he is soft Duty at
the other places, and you will be regaled
with an interesting account of his last
conversation with Julia-what she said,
what he said principally what ne said,
what they both said, and why they said
it. There will generally have been q
number of Julia's remarks which he
thinks might be interpreted to mean that
she was offended about something, and
which ne has been thinking over since,
but can't exactly understand. These you
will explain, as you are woman, and
of course know precisely what Julia
meant. A woman always knows what
another woman means. Before inter
preting, however, it will be policy for
you to discover, by few edroit ques-
tions, just what explanation he would
prefer, and then announce your opinion
accordingly. This will please him. lie will
remain an hour longer explaining to you
the mental process by which he arrived at
that identical conclusion, and when he
goes away he will remark to his friends
that you are sensible woman. This
should be reward enough for anyone.
During the season the young man will
escort Julia to theaters, parties, balls and
take her driving. You will receive full
account of these festivities, and are OF
course expected to be at home on the oC-
casions when his other social duties per-
NIT him to spend an evening with you.
Don't 90 out yourself, and above ell,
don't let your friend find you enjoying
the society of another of his sex. He
doesn't like it. He is not Jealous, GER
tainly not. But he can't talk of MS ina
morata in the presence of third person,
and no other SUI Ct IS sufficiently ab-
sorbing 10 CLAN ais lnteres;. This style
of young mGn wants to lavish the wealth
of his affection on Julia--but he wants,
too, your friendship, your sympathy, and
above all your undivided attention. II
George belongs TO this claSs-drop him.
Last and best is the genuine bona fde
friend-the Tars avis in the world of
human Intercourse. He is considerate,
sympathetic and sincere. He does not
entertain you with an account OF the
latest feat on the bicycle, or the rec9fd 9feI
Jay Eye See. Neither does he RhAy
stoop to the level of your intellecr- and
discuss the german, or the art eShfbit' at
Blanks. He will talk to you much as he
would to q refined masculine friend. He
talks of himself, OF course. That is
peculiarly TO which each individual
at. e co., Y
reveal to you his ambitions, his dreams,